The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Maadi Degla’s Ethos Café is
no more; this below-ground Cairo café beside Seoudi Market on Road 205 has been
reinvented as Zeera, a cheerful restaurant and café, whose decor and menu are –
surprisingly given its predecessor’s fate – similar to those of Ethos.

Zeera’s management has added
a few new touches to the place, mainly a new sign and some orange accents to
complement the existing dark wood and stone decor. The menu is one of average
Cairo café fare with a slight Mexican twist, offering everything from breakfast
to a wide selection of drinks, casual snack food and more elaborate main dishes.

There is an above-average breakfast
menu that includes fresh croissants (10LE), pancakes (16LE for a stack of
three) and the jumbo-sized Zeera breakfast: a hearty platter of eggs, toast,
sausage, smoked beef, potatoes and a croissant (33LE), perfect for a lazy
Sunday brunch.

Snack options abound with a
selection of classic soup flavours (from 15LE) that pair well with delicious
cheese or garlic bread (4LE). For a seriously satisfying appetiser, try the
Zeera favourites (45LE), a large dish packed with spicy chicken wings and other
high-calorie treats.

For a light meal, try the
huge taco salad (33LE) piled high with lettuce, salsa, corn, peppers, chicken,
cheddar cheese and sour cream. There is also a selection of pizzas on the menu,
a standard array of pasta dishes and a long list of cold sandwiches, paninis
and burgers.

For a more filling option,
Zeera provides a choice of chicken, meat and fish dishes. The fish on firewood
(52 LE) is a truly unique and delicious dish. Served with rice and Mexican
condiments, Zeera’s scrumptious fajitas come in a variety of combinations from
a basic chicken (55 LE) to a combination of chicken, beef and shrimp (68LE).
Perfectly prepared meat and chicken were complemented well by fresh tortillas
and flavourful pico de gallo for a surprisingly satisfying Tex-Mex feast. 

Zeera is also a great place
to stop by for a drink. Choose from seasonal fresh juices or try a thick,
delicious milkshake or frappé – a perfect antidote to the summer heat. Satisfy
your sweet tooth with a slice of cheesecake (16LE) or one of Zeera’s delectable
chocolate desserts.

Whether or not Zeera’s
makeover will be enough to save it from the same fate as Ethos remains to be
seen, but in this new café and restaurant Maadi has gained yet another
appealing casual dining option.